As the UK’s leading Air Cooled Condenser installation, repair and maintenance company TEC have considerable knowledge in the efficient operation of all types, make and size of dry air cooling systems from heat exchangers through to fin fan coolers and industrial air cooled condensers. This technical expertise enables us to determine and recommend areas where significant improvements can be made, these include:

Control Logic

 
Efficiency losses

 
Fan settings

 
Environmental conditions

 
Energy efficiency

 
Cleaning routines

 
Thermal Imaging

 
De-aeration

 
Vacuum pressures

TEC’s technical studies measure and compare current performance against the original design specification to identify where efficiency losses are occurring and the measures required to restore performance to the original.

Our repair and maintenance service includes all elements necessary to ensure efficiency, reliability and cost effective performance, these include:

Our clients include all the major power generators and petrochemical companies and all the key manufacturers themselves for whom we erect, install, commission and undertake warranty work throughout the world.

Cleaning and Maximising Air Flow

The importance of keeping air cooled condenser bundles clean cannot be understated. To be effective, cleaning equipment should be designed specifically for each condenser and bundle layout to ensure 360˚ cleaning of each tube and full penetration of all tube rows.

Water must be sprayed in a focused beam in a 15° triangle, be as narrow as possible and the nozzle pressure should be between 80 and 100 bar so that as the beam is directed onto the areas where fouling has accumulated the dirt is forced and washed out.

TEC’s cleaning heads are designed specifically for each ACC bundle arrangement to ensure thorough and effective cleaning as illustrated below:

As and when cleaning is due, TEC provide a complete cleaning service complete with all the necessary equipment and / or operate existing cleaning systems using our specially designed cleaning heads .The cleaning rig is fully automatic and travels vertically up and down the full length of the bundle whilst moving horizontally along the street at a pre-determined speed.

This provides an effective and economic solution to cleaning and as the pictures above illustrate, cleans thoroughly and results in a significant increase in air flow.
 

Thermal Efficiency

Air Cooled Condensers are affected by a number of factors, they deteriorate over time, are susceptible to adverse weather and in many cases contain design inefficiencies and the negative effect of any one or more of these can dramatically reduce cooling efficiency resulting in lost production. These losses can be enormous as illustrated on the chart below depicting a hot (Jul – Aug 2004) summers day:

Fact:

	For every 1° rise in temperature above 30° European Generating Capacity Reduces by 10%
	Inefficient or old Air Cooled Condensers are affected similarly

Although the above illustrates the effect within the power generation industry the same applies to all processes where dry air coolers are in use, the consequences being;

TEC use comparative data to determine current performance against original design specification and can identify areas for improvement. Our detailed studies encompass a full and thorough analysis of the following;

Air flow volume m/s, surface area contact and heat transfer effectiveness

 
Condenser coils and fins, obstructions and cleanliness

 
Motor ratings, gear ratio, fan speed, blade size and pitch

 
Environmental factors e.g. wind shielding

 
Energy Consumption

Our technical studies are extremely thorough and as a measure of our confidence we undertake to make no charge should we be unable to identify any improvements delivering tangible financial returns. Recommendations are fully costed and following implementation a further study will confirm the effectiveness of the measures taken, cost savings achieved and value of increased production.